Page 87 of Savage Hunter

“Yeah. Everything will be just fine.”

The elevator dings and the chrome-covered door. The scent of blood reaches through my nostrils and grips my stomach.

Polaris and I spot the body at the same time. “Mace!” I barrel out of the elevator only to come to a sudden stop. Two men in black camo and ugly scars on their faces step out of the shadows, guns raised.

But it’s not them I’m looking at.

Cold, dead eyes lock on me. Blood drains from my face. A woman in a knee length black dress and the same color of hair as mine steps out from behind her hired muscle.

“Hello, dear. It took me a while, but I finally found you.”

My stomach heaves. It takes a lot of effort, but I push the bile in my throat down at seeing the one person on this planet who has the power to end me. The scars left on my body and mind by brutal men are nothing compared to what this woman left on my heart.

They drag Polaris from the elevator and toss her on the rough cement at my feet. She slowly stands. “Argh!”

Raw fury replaces the icy dread in me and I’m happy to see Polaris balling her hands into fists. I can go for my gun but only if I want to die. Two sets of eyeballs are waiting for one of us to give them an excuse to pull the trigger. They expect me to run, but I’m not a scared little girl wanting her mommy to love her anymore.

“When Harlon finds you here, he’ll kill you.” I’ve never heard Polaris raise her voice before and she doesn’t now. And frankly it’s scary how she infuses the promise of death in such an even tone. I take a mental note not to cross her for sure.

My mother flicks her chin in a silent command resulting in Polaris taking a backhand across her face.

I move in front of her when my mother’s enforcers load a round into their weapons and puts the muzzle to her temple.

“You kill her, you might as well kill me too. You don’t know what you are doing by putting those guns to her head. Fair warning.” I am amazed by how unshaken I come off. I’m not going to break my arm trying to pat myself on the back just yet, but look at me not shaking like a leaf.

The click of metal grinding and locking into place is akin to nails raking over a chalkboard to my senses.

I reconsider my emotions. Maybe I should be scared. But I can’t find it in me to fall victim to the same person twice. I’ll end my life before that happens again.

Ice-blue eyes land on me and then move to Polaris. “He’s being dealt with as we speak.”

What the hell does that mean? She’d need an army to take this place on. Ice practically falls off my mother; she’s that in control. Not a single wrinkle creases the black wrap around and her makeup is flawless. The stiletto heels aren’t my first choice when taking on a place like this, but since when does my mother take care of her own dirty work?

Never.

She takes an alpha stance with her shoulders pinned back, a hip cocked, and one foot slightly more forward than the other. Intimidation through body language is an art. One she has mastered. But I’m not biting. I won’t lash out at her here. Drawing my gun would get me killed. But I won’t slink back and duck my head like a submissive pussy either.

Molten steel slides between disks and I mirror her stance. Two Primroses can play this game.

The cocky, demented bitch prowls closer, pushing her enforcer’s gun to the side. Her heels click on the cement and each step feels like a razor blade across my senses. In those shoes, she’s a couple of inches taller than me. If she thinks that will make me cower…

I laugh in her face. Not smart, but I’m not going to show her an ounce of fear either.

“Careful little girl.” She taps the end of my nose. “Your father thought he could stand up to me too. Do you remember where we spread his ashes?”

Her smile drips with poison but she can say anything she wants. I’m not playing her game. Mother signals with a black-tipped nail for the enforcer on my right to check me. He takes the gun but misses the phone tucked into my bra. I didn’t have anywhere else to put the thing so I guess that worked well.

“You need to leave before it’s too late. I don’t know what you want but you’re not getting it.”

Polaris should know better than to draw the snake’s attention.

I practically see the fangs extend when the blond bitch moves toward Polaris.

“You. You are the one that got away from me. I remember you. Ares owes me for taking you without payment.”

Venom laces her words.

Unknowingly, Polaris keeps her occupied while I look for a security camera. I cast around until I spot the little red blinking dot. One step and then another puts me in the line of sight. Like a dance, the gunmen move in unison with me. Dumbasses. I can only hope Wolfe is watching the cameras.

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